Ecological Sustainability

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Transcript of Ecological Sustainability

Oceans Wetlands Desert Antarctica Steppe Mountains Forests http://unstats.un.org/unsd/envaccounting/ceea/meetings/UNCEEA-6-13-1.pdfhttp://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/es/esi/ESI2005.pdfhttp://epi.yale.edu/http://www.ecosummit2012.org/press-releases.htmlhttp://www.unep.org/ecosystemmanagement/ Sources 2012 EPI Ranking 2012 EPI ranking Successor of ESIDifferent focus than ESI:How close to countries are to established policy goalsReports released in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 Environmental Performance Index Benchmarks ability of nations to protect environment over next several decades.Based on „pressure-state-response“ policy modelHigh scores = high ability to maintain favourable environmental conditions into future Environmental Sustainability Index Indicators should be derived from a consistent framework If possible, internationally harmonizedBased on already existing dataCommunication with stakeholdersLimit number of indicators Indicators Information gapsUncertaintiesPolicy based on generalized observations/ best guessesStrengthen environmental problem solvingAchievement of global-scale policy goals Why do we need to measure environmental sustainability? Measuring Environmental sustainability Depends on social and economic behaviorShould be avoided unless you want to see population crashes

Ecological sustainability is the last step because it is influenced by economy which is determined by social demands. Carrying capacity Energy source must be renewable

All other resources must be completely recycled Energy and Resources Circle of life The entropy of an isolated system can only increase over time.

Entropy= measure of disorder(chaos)

Isolated system= a system that does not have any mass/energy exchange with another system Second law of thermodynamics A system is referred to as being sustainable if it can provide support for its population indefinitely. Sustainability a presentation by Alex, Sophie, Adriana, Luise Ecological Sustainability

The land is too cold, dry and dark for plants and animals

Soils are not very fertile

Provision of food, medicine and fibers SLASH-and-burn agriculture Now mainly done in the tropics but it was also practiced in temperate regions

found in many different ecosystems: forest, savannah, grassland

Use of fire to prepare fieldBurning converts biomass into nutrient rich ash

Does not account for environmental constraintsHigh population density and high land use pressure Unsustainable slash-and-burn agriculture Adapted to the environment in which it is practiced

Low population densities and low intensity of land use

example from Suriname

Traditional systems often include soil conservation practices

fallows used in response to lowered crop yields and increased pest pressuresserve to halt soil degradation and to restore fertility and other soil conditions that were degraded by conversion and cropping Sustainable slash-and-burn agriculture ability to maintain production through time, in face of long-term ecological constraints